It's business time: Bret McKenzie, half of the popular music-comedy duo the Flight of the Conchords, is developing an animated comedy for Fox.The New Zealand native came up with the idea for the untitled show, set in the world of ...

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By TV Guide

The Times

By TV Guide

Posted Oct. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 29, 2013 at 9:12 PM

By TV Guide

Posted Oct. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 29, 2013 at 9:12 PM

It's business time: Bret McKenzie, half of the popular music-comedy duo the Flight of the Conchords, is developing an animated comedy for Fox.

The New Zealand native came up with the idea for the untitled show, set in the world of NASA. Fox has given a script and presentation order to the project. McKenzie is executive producing along with King of the Hill alums Tony Gama-Lobo and Rebecca May; all three are writing the project via 20th Century Fox TV.

The untitled workplace comedy follows the exploits of a group of employees toiling away at an almost-obsolete NASA space center in Boulder, Colorado. McKenzie hasn't yet committed to voicing a part on the show, but that remains a possibility.

McKenzie, who composed the music for 2011's The Muppets, is now at work overseeing the music for the sequel, out next year. As an actor, he appeared in 2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and in this year's indie film Austenland.

He's still best known for his work with Jemaine Clement, and together they turned their comedy band into the HBO cult fave Flight of the Conchords.

Gama-Lobo and May most recently executive produced the animated IFC series Out There.

The McKenzie project is part of a new crop of animated development that comes as Fox looks to refresh its Sunday night "Animation Domination" lineup. Fox recently pulled the plug on plans to launch the new series Murder Police (it's now being shopped elsewhere), while American Dad is moving to TBS next year. Among other projects in development: Massholes, from Spike Feresten.